Glenn Foster Jr. was strangled before he died in police custody, an independent autopsy shows.
According to multiple reports, Foster’s family hired medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden to conduct an autopsy of the former NFL star, who died earlier this month while in the custody of the Pickens County Sherriff’s Office. Dr. Baden found that there was “evidence of neck compressions and strangulation” that contributed to his untimely death.
As REVOLT previously reported, Foster was arrested on Dec. 3 for a speeding violation. The former New Orleans Saints star was booked into the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office’s jail for resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and attempting to elude police.
Foster’s family worked with authorities to get him released from prison after notifying the police chief that he suffered from mental illness issues. On Dec. 5, Foster was scheduled to be released from jail and sent to a hospital for further evaluation, however, before he could leave, he was rebooked for allegedly assaulting another inmate and stealing their socks. Foster remained behind bars until Dec. 6, when deputies transported him to a nearby hospital in a patrol car. He was pronounced dead once he arrived at the hospital.
On Friday (Dec. 17), attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Foster’s family, issued a statement regarding the preliminary autopsy findings. “Glenn Foster Jr.’s death, while in the Pickens County Sheriff’s custody and care, was not from natural causes as the independent autopsy suggests there was some evidence of neck compressions and strangulation,” the renowned lawyer said. “As we continue to investigate the case, we are learning that Mr. Foster’s death in Pickens County appears to be part of a disturbing trend of Black men dying while in the custody of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. Keeping people in your custody alive is literally the lowest bar we can set for a law enforcement agency, and is something that the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office failed to do. Pickens County owes the family the truth relating to Mr. Foster’s tragic death. These findings are deeply concerning and demand a full and transparent investigation into what happened to Glenn Foster Jr. and how he lost his life. We will not stop until we get answers and justice for Glenn, his family, and the community.”